Definition of 'ramp'

Word Frequency

ramp

(ræmp )

Word forms: plural ramps

1. countable noun

A ramp is a sloping surface between two places that are at different levels.

Lillian was coming down the ramp from the museum.

...a ramp to facilitate entry into the pool from a wheelchair.

Synonyms: slope, grade, incline, gradient More Synonyms of ramp

2. countable noun

An entrance ramp is a road which cars use to drive onto a major road, and an exit ramp is a road which cars use to drive off a major road.

[US]regional note: in BRIT, use slip road

Word Frequency

ramp in British

(ræmp )

noun

a sloping floor, path, etc, that joins two surfaces at different levels

a movable stairway by which passengers enter and leave an aircraft

the act of ramping

4. British slang

a swindle, esp one involving exorbitant prices

5. another name for speed bump

verb

6. (intr; often foll by about or around)

(esp of animals) to rush around in a wild excited manner

to act in a violent or threatening manner, as when angry (esp in the phrase ramp and rage)

8. (transitive) finance

to buy (a security) in the market with the object of raising its price and enhancing the image of the company behind it for financial gain

Word origin of 'ramp'

C18 (n): from C13 rampe, from Old French ramper to crawl or rear, probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Low German ramp cramp

Word Frequency

ramp in American 1

(ræmp ; ramp)

noun

a sloping, sometimes curved, surface, walk, road, etc. joining different levels

2. US

a means for boarding or leaving a plane, as a staircase on wheels rolled up to the door

a concave bend or curve where a handrail or coping changes its direction, as at a staircase landing

a sloping runway for launching boats, as from trailers

Idioms:

ramp up

Word origin of 'ramp'

Fr rampe < OFr ramper: see ramp2

Word Frequency

ramp in American 2

(ræmp ; ramp)

verb intransitive

to stand upright on the hind legs

b. Heraldry

to be depicted rampant

to assume a threatening posture

to move or rush threateningly, violently, or with fury; rampage

noun

the act of ramping

Word origin of 'ramp'

ME rampen < OFr ramper, to climb, clamber < Frank *rampon, to cramp together < Gmc *rampa, claw, akin to MDu ramp, cramp < IE *(s)kremb-, var. of base *(s)kerb(h)-, to twist, curve > shrimp, harp

Word Frequency

ramp in American 3

(ræmp ; ramp)

noun

a wild leek (Allium tricoccum) having a pair of broad basal leaves in spring, followed by a naked flower stalk: its strongly flavored bulbs are edible

Word origin of 'ramp'

taken as sing. of ramps, var. of dial. rams, wild garlic < ME < OE hramsa, wild garlic < IE base *krem- > Gr kremyon, MIr crem, Lith kermùšė

Example sentences containing 'ramp'

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The bus had a space for wheelchairs and was equipped with a lowering platform and a wheelchair ramp. Times, Sunday Times (2017)Dare he use his ramp shot? Times, Sunday Times (2016)Humans wishing to ascend or descend used concrete ramps, installed to save on precious wartime steel. Smithsonian Mag (2017)The pressure is ramped up as they expect to be doing a lot better. The Sun (2014)How is it that the new stock has been built without ramps for wheelchairs? Times, Sunday Times (2016)The company is also ramping up its research. Times, Sunday Times (2006)But the model ramped up security just in case. The Sun (2011)He has been brought in to stabilise the company and ramp up production. Times, Sunday Times (2012)They might ramp prices up before any freeze came into effect. The Sun (2013)And that ramps up the pressure in his mind. Times, Sunday Times (2016)And there is a sliding ramp for wheelchairs. The Sun (2008)Their business model is to ramp up house prices. The Sun (2013)But instead they ramped up the prices. The Sun (2012)The company is now ramping up its advertising business but lags way behind the rest of the industry. Times, Sunday Times (2008)Police ramped up security as tens of thousands of demonstrators are expected to descend for a march and candlelit rally. The Sun (2010)They are keenly priced and made ethically and well by adults in a clean factory with many fire escapes and wheelchair ramps. Times, Sunday Times (2012)So the coalition's secret war is also being ramped up. Times, Sunday Times (2015)With a recovery nowhere in sight, the banks have ramped up the pressure. Times, Sunday Times (2013)Ireland's economic turnaround is also likely to ramp up demand for a float. Times, Sunday Times (2014)The training venue may need to have ramps for wheelchairs, lifts and reserved parking spaces. O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)An insurers' poll found charges are also ramped up for gas or central heating emergencies. The Sun (2008)I would be ramping up the pressure on the opposition and trading on our chances as underdogs. Times, Sunday Times (2007)Oi, love, have you got a licence to use that ramp? The Sun (2013)Road trains will require changes to British roads, including bridge strengthening and changing access ramps and slip roads. Times, Sunday Times (2009)The use of manual ramps for the first time on the Underground has opened up parts of London previously out of bounds to wheelchair users. Times, Sunday Times (2012)I used to build these giant ramps and I would fly. Times, Sunday Times (2006)

Trends of 'ramp'

In Common Usage. ramp is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'ramp'

British English: ramp /ræmp/ NOUN

A ramp is a sloping surface between two places that are at different levels.

I pushed her wheelchair up the ramp.

American English: ramp
Arabic: طَرِيقٌ مُنْحَدِر
Brazilian Portuguese: rampa
Chinese: 斜坡
Croatian: rampa
Czech: rampa
Danish: rampe
Dutch: helling
European Spanish: rampa
Finnish: ramppi
French: rampe
German: Rampe
Greek: ράμπα
Italian: rampa
Japanese: 傾斜面
Korean: 사면 도로
Norwegian: rampe
Polish: rampa
European Portuguese: rampa
Romanian: rampă
Russian: наклонная плоскость
Spanish: rampa
Swedish: ramp
Thai: ทางลาด
Turkish: rampa
Ukrainian: схил
Vietnamese: đoạn đường dốc

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Nearby words of 'ramp'

Related Terms of 'ramp'

Source

Definition of ramp from the Collins English Dictionary

Numbers

There are two common kinds of number: Cardinal numbers are used in all forms of counting that involve a total. one chair two chairs a hundred people ten thousand pounds Ordinal numbers ...